Angelina Jolie Writes To President Obama
Since becoming a UN Goodwill Ambassador in 2001, Angelina Jolie has always been active with her human rights campaigns. One of her focus is the troubled region of Darfur. On Human Rights Day, La Jolie has released a Newsweek editorial that calls out on the Obama administration for its approach to the situation in Sudan.
Angelina Jolie writes:
"Their policy, though, raises a number of questions. How is the Obama administration's approach to Sudan an evolution of justice? In addition, when the administration says it intends to work to 'improve the lives of the people of Darfur,' I would like to know what that means, besides the obvious point that their lives could hardly get worse.
"The administration has not yet announced any serious moves to enforce the decision of the ICC and execute its warrants. There will be pressure on the United States and its partners to bring stability to Sudan, even at the expense of criminal accountability. Regardless of the rationale, the end would be the same: victims left without justice while perpetrators walk away.
"Like many Americans, I support the administration's willingness to engage diplomatically, even with regimes we abhor. And I believe President Obama and his special envoy Scott Gration will do their best to bring peace to the region. I also hope we will act sooner and more powerfully to prevent future atrocities."
So Angelina Jolie is supporting President Obama's method after all. She is just pressuring the administration to act (and hopefully give remedy) to the Darfur crisis. Only few people can do that, you know - appealing to the government with high-publicity backup - and a Hollywood A-lister like Angelina Jolie is one of the abled few.
So good luck to your cause Angie!
Read how lots of celebrities today use their name and their fame to promote important causes. Labels: Angelina Jolie, barack obama, charity, human rights
Big Hollywood Stars On Obama's Arts Committee
President Barack Obama's Committee on Arts and the Humanities is star-studded.
It includes the names of Sarah Jessica Parker, Forest Whitaker, and Anna Wintour as members of the panel that will focus on arts and humanities education, cultural diplomacy, and economic revitalization through the arts and humanities and special events.
The committee's honorary chairwoman is First Lady Michelle Obama while film producer George Stevens Jr. and theater producer Margo Lion will serve as its co-chairs.
The list of 25 people from the worlds of arts and entertainment includes talent agent Bryan Lour, director George Wolfe, independent filmmaker Liz Manne, publicist Andy Spahn, cellist Yo Yo Ma, philanthropist Teresa Heinz, architect Thom Mayne, ballet dancer Damian Woetzel, and actors Edward Norton, Kerry Washington, and Alfre Woodard.Labels: Anna Wintour, barack obama, forest whitaker, michelle obama, Sarah Jessica Parker Fashion
Animosity Towards Barack Obama, Due To Racism?
Former US President Jimmy Carter says that much of the opposition to first African-American President Barack Obama is due to racism. He says that many Whites that express disagreement with the president's leadership hold the belief that an African-American is not worthy to be in the White House:
"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African American."
Jimmy Carter cites the anti-government demonstrations over healthcare reform which have been almost exclusively White. There is also an increasingly aggressive tone on rightwing talk shows.
While celebrating his 85th birthday on NBC, Jimmy Carter claims:
"I live in the south, and I've seen the south come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shared the south's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African Americans."And that racism inclination still exists. And I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of the belief among many white people, not just in the south but around the country, that African Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply."
Meanwhile, the Republican party today issued a denial saying that Carter was "flat-out wrong." According to them, the opposition was not because of Obama's skin colour but of his policies.Labels: barack obama, Jimmy Carter, racism
Celebrities Celebrating Barack Obama's Victory
 Majority of Hollywood celebrities lean Democrat, so when the result of the election pave it's way leading to Barack Obama's victory, they merrily celebrate. It's as if they also won. Oprah Winfrey says, "It feels like hope won. It feels like there's a shift in consciousness. It feels like something really big and bold has happened here, like nothing ever in our lifetimes did we expect this to happen." Grateful George Clooney says "I congratulate President-elect Obama on his historic victory, and now it's time to begin unifying the country so we can take on the extraordinary challenges that this generation faces." Being the first Black American to take over the presidency, R&B star Usher is proud to say, "This will go down in history, in black history, for all of the sacrifices that the great Joseph Lowery and Martin Luther King made, this actually pays off for their sacrifice .... I'm speechless. I don't even know what to say." Also, American record producer, rapper and actor Sean 'Diddy' Combs says "I felt like my vote was the vote that put him into office ... And that may not be true but that's how much power it felt like I had." The longest presidential campaign season in U.S. History lasted for 21 months, ended with the leadership declaration of the first ever Black American President, Barack Obama. Then, giving way for a new beginning with a promise. “The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there.” Barack Obama
44the President of USA Labels: barack obama, Celebrities, Politics, Presidential election
Paris Hilton for McCain, Scarlett Johansson for Obama
 In the pink corner, it's Paris Hilton issuing tart rebuttal to John McCain's election campaign ad. In the purple corner, it's Scarlett Johansson claiming embarrassment over Barack Obama emails.
Paris Hilton responded to a recent ad by presidential hopeful John McCain that compared the heiress to rival Barack Obama (while Hillary Clinton was compared to Paris Hilton's party friend, Britney Spears). The ad suggests that Obama is just a celebrity candidate unready to lead the nation.
On a spoof in a comedy Web site Funny or Die, Paris Hilton responded by declaring, “Hey America, I'm Paris Hilton and I'm a celebrity, too. Only I'm not from the olden days and I'm not promising change like that other guy. I'm just hot. But then that wrinkly, white-haired guy used me in his campaign ad, which I guess means I'm running for president. So thanks for the endorsement white-haired dude... I want America to know that I'm, like, totally ready to lead.”
For her part, 23-year old actress Scarlett Johansson admitted to be embarrassed by the media coverage of her so-called "e-mail relationship" with Barack Obama.
The actress admitted to be trading e-mails with the former senator during a magazine interview last June. Before the “email relationship” issue went out-of control, Scarlett Johansson explained, "I was merely trying to express my delight at Obama's commitment to his campaign in every aspect and his interest and his support (in) his surrogates and his staff and his fellows, and how wonderful and refreshing that is. And it was manipulated into such an unfortunate media frenzy of kind of a nonstory." For his part, Obama told reporters that Johansson doesn't have his personal e-mail address. It was his assistant who forwarded one message from Johansson to which he replied.
So there it goes, the high-profiled issues between celebrities and presidential hopefuls, which only teach us one thing: politicians are always linked with celebrities, making their names more popular to the voting public. Period.Labels: barack obama, john mccain, Paris Hilton, scarlett johansson
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